The product is much better this season. There are 7-8 very good teams. The season has seen numerous thrilling games.
People, however, aren't very interested.
On average, the PSAC is drawing 80 less fans per game this basketball season than it did a year ago. Last season saw an average (league-wide) gate of 477. This season the number is down to 397 (approaching 20%).
Some schools have seen mild increases. Most have not. Some, in fact, have seen dramatic declines at the gate.
The Winners:
Edinboro (+51)
Gannon (+31)
Clarion (+25)
UPJ (+10)
That's it. Of 18 member programs, the rest are in the red. Some in the deep red.
IUP (-350 per game)
Mercyhurst (-284)
Cheyney (-182)
Lock Haven (-136)
West Chester (-114)
ESU (-106)
Cal (-87)
Ship (-84)
Mansfield (-69)
Millersville (-43)
Seton Hill (-38)
Bloomsburg (-35)
SRU (-27)
Kutztown (-11)
Percentage-wise, the two hit the hardest are IUP and Mercyhurst.
IUP's average gate is down from 1,367 a year ago to just 1,017 this season (consider it was 2,000 not many years ago). Mercyhurst drew 632 last season and just 348 this year.
Some of the places you expect it. However, for schools like Shippensburg, WCU and ESU to be showing negative declines in the 15-20 percent range is very odd based on the seasons they are having.
Current Season Avg. Home Attendance (2017-18)
IUP - 1,017
Gannon - 743
Kutztown - 633
WCU - 519
Mansfield - 417
SRU - 405
Edinboro - 399
ESU - 394
Ship - 377
Mercy - 348
Bloom - 324
Millersville - 282
Clarion - 265
Seton Hill - 230
Cal - 219
UPJ - 207
Cheyney - 181
Lock Haven - 179
People, however, aren't very interested.
On average, the PSAC is drawing 80 less fans per game this basketball season than it did a year ago. Last season saw an average (league-wide) gate of 477. This season the number is down to 397 (approaching 20%).
Some schools have seen mild increases. Most have not. Some, in fact, have seen dramatic declines at the gate.
The Winners:
Edinboro (+51)
Gannon (+31)
Clarion (+25)
UPJ (+10)
That's it. Of 18 member programs, the rest are in the red. Some in the deep red.
IUP (-350 per game)
Mercyhurst (-284)
Cheyney (-182)
Lock Haven (-136)
West Chester (-114)
ESU (-106)
Cal (-87)
Ship (-84)
Mansfield (-69)
Millersville (-43)
Seton Hill (-38)
Bloomsburg (-35)
SRU (-27)
Kutztown (-11)
Percentage-wise, the two hit the hardest are IUP and Mercyhurst.
IUP's average gate is down from 1,367 a year ago to just 1,017 this season (consider it was 2,000 not many years ago). Mercyhurst drew 632 last season and just 348 this year.
Some of the places you expect it. However, for schools like Shippensburg, WCU and ESU to be showing negative declines in the 15-20 percent range is very odd based on the seasons they are having.
Current Season Avg. Home Attendance (2017-18)
IUP - 1,017
Gannon - 743
Kutztown - 633
WCU - 519
Mansfield - 417
SRU - 405
Edinboro - 399
ESU - 394
Ship - 377
Mercy - 348
Bloom - 324
Millersville - 282
Clarion - 265
Seton Hill - 230
Cal - 219
UPJ - 207
Cheyney - 181
Lock Haven - 179
Comment